Court directs authorities to decide pending representation for land acquisition compensation within a stipulated timeframe.

The petitioner is the recorded owner of land bearing Khasra No. 374/4 (0.28 acres) in Village Karhi, District Sakti

She alleged that while a significant portion of her land was utilized for the construction of the Karhi Minor Canal, it was excluded from the land acquisition notification and the subsequent award passed by the Land Acquisition Officer on 31.03.2003

Following unsuccessful oral requests, the petitioner submitted a formal representation to the Collector and relevant authorities on 13.01.2026, seeking compensation under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013

Due to the respondents' failure to decide on the representation, the petitioner approached the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India

1. Whether the Court should direct the respondents to decide upon a pending representation regarding unpaid compensation for land utilized in a public project

The Court exercised its discretionary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to ensure the exhaustion of administrative remedies

The petitioner sought relief under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, asserting her right to compensation for land utilized by the State

The Court examined the petitioner’s grievance regarding the deprivation of land for the Karhi Minor Canal without formal acquisition or compensation

Although the State counsel raised the objection of inordinate delay in filing both the representation and the writ petition [para. 3], the Court prioritized the fact that a representation was currently pending before the competent authorities

Without delving into the merits of the compensation claim, the Court reasoned that the administrative authorities have a duty to resolve pending representations.

Consequently, it determined that an expedited time-bound direction to the respondents to pass a speaking order would sufficiently address the petitioner's immediate grievance

It directed Respondents No. 3 to 5 (Collector Sakti, SDO/Land Acquisition Officer, and Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department) to consider and decide the petitioner's representation dated 13.01.2026 in accordance with the law

The Court ordered that this decision be taken expeditiously, preferably within six months from the date of receipt or submission of the court order